Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in January 2007 launched what he described as a plan to develop a “postcolonial” economy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Calling it Vision 20/20, he said that the plan would be a “road map” for growth, with improvements in education and health given top priority.

In June Gonsalves rejected opposition claims that the current foreign policy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was not in the best interest of the country. He stoutly defended the growing assistance provided by Cuba and Venezuela and accused the opposition of being afraid that his government’s choice of countries for closer cooperation might “upset” the U.S. The prime minister stressed that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was also pursuing closer relations with Taiwan, Turkey, and Brazil and insisted that a small state had to take advantage of all opportunities for links with larger countries.

That same month both Prime Minister Gonsalves and opposition leader Arnhim Eustace declared their support for the retention of the death penalty in the country, arguing that it acted as a deterrent to criminality. Gonsalves pointed out, however, that judgments of the London-based Privy Council, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ final court of appeal, had been making it “very difficult” to hang those convicted of murder.